letting the water run in a sluice - over the dam. 
The water from a few bieins excavated in a 
suitable place, with shade tress or elder bushes 
planted around them, and some rushes and 
water-grass on or near their banks, will hold, 
upon au almost barren hill, a supply of water 
sufficient to render a very large tract valuable 
as pasture or meadow. Furrows, terraces or 
other slight obstructions to prevent the rapid 
running off of the water, are also valuable. 
A nursery of shade trees, Chestnut, Oak, 
Hickory or Maple, can be grown very easily and 
add materially to the valuo of theao treeless 
pastures and otherwise barren places. Pas¬ 
turing with sheep, to be yarded at night in an 
inclosure so as to prevent dogs from killing them, 
has restored many such wastes. A pasture is 
no doubt inoroased in value in every way by the 
presence of a growth of timber, if growing fifty 
feet apart each way. 
Upon sloping laud there are very few crops 
that are not increased from ono-fourth to one- 
third by tho trickling of a stream of water along 
the upper edge of the field ; and the outlay for 
a wind-mill or a hydraulic ram and the pipes and 
basins necessary to convey and hold the water, 
is one of the best investments as a fertilizer, 
which the farmer oan make. The most prac¬ 
tical means of conveying water is by the hy¬ 
draulic ram, but if there is a sufficient stream to 
carry a water-wheel so as to give a much larger 
supply, the increased expense is well paid out. 
-» 
WEEDS. 
There oannot be any good farming where 
weeds are allowed to run riot among the grow¬ 
ing crops, aud any farmer who permits quanti¬ 
ties of foul herbage to grow around tho outside 
of his fields, in the corners or on any parts of his 
farm, is no patriot, no man worthy of ad¬ 
mit ation or to be influenced by in any way. 
let in many neighborhoods there are men 
wishing to take tho lead, whose farms are so 
covered with weeds that for the life of them, they 
could not cross any of their fields without 
(reading on weeds at every step. Let any ra¬ 
tional man think for a moment of the vast extent 
of injury such a farmer causes to his neighbors 
for many miles on every side. For, to say 
nothing of the action of the wind in scattering 
the seeds of many weeds, great quantities of 
them are eaten by birds which afterwards visit 
farms whoso careful, tidy owners take much 
trouble to koep them froo from weedy pests. 
But it is well known that seeds grow after 
passing through tho bodies of birds, so that 
these clean fields aro sown with weed Beeds 
from the droppings of those birds, and soon 
either become as foul as those of the negligent, 
pestiferous neighbor or cause their owners a 
world of trouble to prevent such a calamity. 
Indignant public opinion should bo brought 
to bear sharply on any land-owner whose weedv 
lands are a disgrace to himself and an injury 
and nuisance to the neighborhood. o. a. 
iortifultural. 
PAPYRUS. 
All the interest of history is not confined to 
things, for the words that designate them also 
sometimes have a history at onco interesting and 
instructive. Some of these, which from their 
\eruacular form, familiar use, and the compara¬ 
tively recent introduction of the objects they 
indicate, oue might readily suppose to be of 
modern and domestic origin, have, nevertheless, 
a history extending bade to ages so remote that 
history in them is lost in fable, aud to lands 
which knew not even of the existence of the 
countries in which those words which they origi¬ 
nated. have fouud so congenial a homo. Of those, 
the word paper, is an excellent instance. Iri 
using it how seldom is it ever associated with 
antiquity! Yet when the youthful Moses was 
learning all tho wisdom of the Egyptians, the 
word he used in speakiug of the substance on 
which much of that wisdom was written, was al¬ 
most identical in souud with that employed by 
tho school-buy of to-day in speaking of the sub¬ 
stance on which his lessons are printed; for the 
youthful Moses called it papa, while the school¬ 
boy of to-day oalls it paper. And long before 
Moses was taken out from among the bulrushes, 
long before Joseph was taken down into Egypt, 
the same word was in familiar use amoug the 
dusky sageB who. in that laud of mystery, were 
the chief possessors of the wisdom of the world 
its youth. Later on, the Egyptian word was 
corrupted by the Greeks into papyrus, and this 
in its turn has been corrupted into paper by the 
English-speaking people. Another name given 
to it by Herodotus was by blus, whence the Greek 
word biblion, a book, and onr word Bible. But 
whilo among us the word has no reference to the 
substance of which the material it designates is 
Composed, the ancient word was applied not 
only to the manufactured article, but also to the 
plant, of which it was made. 
-this was a kind of rued, belonging to the 
amily of Oyperacero, or sedges, and growing to 
the bight of from eight to ten feet. It had very 
strong, woody, aromatic roots; long, sharp-keeled 
cayes, and a naked, triangular, soft aud cellu¬ 
lar stem, as thick as a man’s arm at the lower 
part, and at the upper extremity bearing, in the 
form of a large, oompouud umbel, a multitude 
of drooping spikelets, each containing from six 
to thirteen florets. It was grown very extensive¬ 
ly as a government monopoly, in pools of still 
water, and along the river bank, in the districts 
of Sais and Sebennytus, in tho delta of the Nile, 
and there only. It was used for a great variety 
of purposes besides paper. Its plumes crowned 
the statues of gods and decorated their tem¬ 
ples ; its pith was boiled and oaten as food, 
wicker-work boxeB, baskets and boats were 
woven of its stalks ; while sails, cordage, cloths, 
mats aud sandals for tho priests, were made of 
its bark. It furuithed material for candles and 
torches, was used as medicine for the cure of 
ulcers aud fistulas, aud its roots were used for 
fuel aud manufactured into household utensils. 
So rare is the plant iu the present day in Egypt 
that many suppose it never to have been indi¬ 
genous tliero, but to have been introduced either 
from Syria or Abyssinia in bt th of which places 
it is now found, here and there, growiug wild. 
As its cultivation was confined exclusively to 
northern Egypt, if introduced at all, it must 
probably have been from some couutry to the 
north of the Delta, and therefore most likely 
from Syria. 
Tho upper portion of the stem was internally 
much like a rush and entirely unfit for making 
paper. This was manufactured exclusively from 
the lower part which had been immersed in 
water and mud. This portiou was whiter and 
more compact than the upper and, instead of 
cellular pith, it consisted, iusule the outer coarse 
skiu, of a number of concentric layers lying one 
over the other. These were removed and laid 
on a Btnooth, fiat surface, side by side, with the 
edges overlapping each other; and crosswise 
upou them wore placed, at right angles, one or 
more similar layers until the sheet was sufficiently 
thick. Pressure was then applied so as to cause 
the different slips and layers to adhere to each 
other aud form a single sheet, which was then 
dried iu the sun. The sheets were finally beaten 
smooth with a mallet aud polished with a piece 
of ivory or shell. The width of the sheets de¬ 
pended, of course, on tho length of tho papyrus 
stems takeu; but their length oould be extended 
indefinitely by joining a number of square slips 
together by glue or any adhesive matter. When 
finished, the papyrus was rolled upon a wooden 
cylinder, called seal pus, the ends of which pro¬ 
jecting beyond tho edges, were handsomely orna¬ 
mented. Tho length of each roll was generally 
formed of twenty square slips, and its width 
varied from about four to eighteen inches, 
When newly prepared, the paper was white or 
brownish-white and pliant, but in process of 
time, the papyri which have reached the present 
day, have become of a dark-brown or nearly 
black color, legible only iu a favorable light, and 
so exceedingly brittle that they are apt to break 
at a touch. 
Onion. 
_47—48 .. 
, 95 
Parsnip . 
. 50 -50 . . 
... 44-45.... 
.... 89 
Radish. 
. 50—50.... 
.. 90 
Salsify. 
.. 38—41... 
.... 18 
Squash.... 
... 10-10.... 
....100 
Tomato.. 60-50'..«—10.!!!‘.!‘.I 51 
JAMES VICK. 
Beet . 
Carrot . 
50 
Corn . 
. 511—0 . 
.., 80-41... 
77 
Cucumber . 
. 50 - 60, ... 
... 40—87 . 
77 
Cauliflower. 
.50-6H. 
... 28—80. .. 
' 56 
Cabbage . 
. 50— 50. . 
4 H—48 
88 
Lettuce . 
. 50-50 . 
... 10—29 — 
... C9 
Union .. 
. 60—50 . 
.. 41 — 48 
HA 
Parsnip . 
. 50-60 . 
... 29-82 ... 
..; 6i 
Radish' . 
. 50 -50, ,. , 
40-44. 
£4Q 
Salsify . 
... 43-47.... 
!.. 90 
Tomato . 
. 50-60 . 
... 25—36.... 
... 61 
A COMPARISON. 
As the various layers of papyrus, usually 
twenty in number, decreased in thickness as they 
approached the center of tho stem, the manu¬ 
facturers were enabled to produce paper of dif¬ 
fereut qualities. The finest was made from tho 
innermost membranes and was coiled Hierotica, 
or paper for the priests, who interdicted its sale 
until covered with sacred writing. In this state, 
however, it was largely exported, the hiero- 
glyphica skillfully removed, and the paper used 
for any desirable purpose. Inferior to this were 
seven more grades, the poorest of which was 
only used for wrapping paper. 
The papyri taken in late years from tombs 
in the pyramids and elsewhere in Egypt, are gen¬ 
erally written in black and red, but some aro 
ornamented with other colors and with gilding, 
while others are adorned with vignettes many of 
which are remarkable for tho delicaoy and beauty 
of their execution. They may be divided into 
three classes, written respectively in the hiero- 
ghyphic, hieratic and demotic characters. The 
first are mostly books of religious or moral 
character, tho writing is readable generally from 
right to left, sometimes from left to right and 
occasionally from top to bottom. In the last 
case the lines are inclosed in ruled spaces, 
while in tho first and second they are to be read 
in the direction opposite to that towards which 
the figures which chietly form tho writing, aro 
turned. The oldest specimen of these, and pro¬ 
bably the oldest writing in the world, is a treat¬ 
ise on good manners, 10 inches wide and 150 
feet long, now in tho National Library of Franco, 
and written by Prince Ptah-hotep in the reign 
of his kinsman, King Aasa-Tatkera, of the 
fifth dynasty, 5,378 years ago, or 1.520 years 
before Abraham visited Egypt, according to 
Bishop Usher’s chrouolgy. Hieratic manuscripts 
contain the great body of Egyptian literature, 
and from extant specimens of that running mode 
of writing, it must have been largely used aB 
long ago as 2000 years before Christ. The 
oldest specimen of demotic manuscript uow 
known is of the date C20 years B. G. and may 
therefore be regarded as quite modern accord¬ 
ing to Egyptian chronology. 
-—-- 
FURTHER TRIAL OF SEEDS IN 1878. 
PROFESSOR W. J. BEAL. 
The articles written last year, and first pub¬ 
lished in the Rural have since been extensively 
copied. They have received many hearty com¬ 
ments of approval from editors, granges, farm¬ 
ers’ clubs, seedsmen and others. 
I wished to test the vitality and purity of the 
seeds sold by some of the seedsmen who make 
exteusivo sales and who have a good reputation. 
As I feared I might not get fair average samples 
of seed if they were ordered directly over my 
own name, seeds were ordered for me by a 
friend in a distant county of this State. They 
were tested in the greenhouse. 
B. K. BLISS A SONS. 
Beet.. 
Seeds Seeds 
tested, germinated. 
Per 
cent. 
Carrot. 
Corn. 
•• 50—50 seeds.. 28— Mi.! 
.... 59 
Cucumber. 
Cauliflower. 
Cabbage . 
.. 50-50... 
.. 50—50... 
.. 511-50 
• •» •. 4a—48.,, 
.'47 
, > • . Uic 
.... 93 
.... 58 
Lettuce. 
.. 50—50 ... 
.41-34... 
• i • t5 
-• <- it) 
Parsnip. 
Peas... 
Radish. 
Tomato. 
.. 50—Ml.,, 
.. 60-50... 
.. 21,-25... 
.. ail-50... 
.. aO—50.., 
. 178—40 .. 
... 20-35... 
.... 43 
.... 78 
...1(0 
• »tt 4 4 
Below I give a table comparing the same vari¬ 
eties of seeds of each firm, the seeds of whioh 
were tested. I give the per cent, of seeds which 
germinated in each case, then the average for 
the eight varieties: 
Bliss. 
Ferry. 
Greg¬ 
ory. 
Hender¬ 
son. 
Thor¬ 
burn. Vick 
Beet 79 
82 
83 
73 
82 
63 
Carrot 59 
67 
80 
65 
97 
59 
Cueum’r 93 
90 
82 
75 
45 
77 
Cabbage 75 
62 
91 
71 
68 
65 
89 
Letiuee 75 
3 
2 
82 
69 
Oniou 43 
73 
46 
85 
95 
84 
Parsoip 73 
85 
79 
71 
89 
61 
Tomato 51 
20 
96 
69 
51 
61 
Average 09 
61 
70 
65 
76 
71 
The average is not exact, but very near in 
each case. The above seeds were tested to¬ 
gether in the same room of the greenhouse. Per¬ 
haps the most striking thing in the last table or 
in all of them, is the uneven size of the figures. 
Thorburn sent out some poor seeds of cucum¬ 
ber and cabbage. Vick, some poor seeds of 
beets aud parsnips. Gregory, poor seeds of 
onions, and very poor lettuce ; Bliss, poor seeds 
of onions, carrots, etc.; Henderson, some poor 
seeds of cnonmber and a low average of every¬ 
thing ; Ferry, poor seeds of tomato, and very 
poor seeds of lettnoe. 
I believe all of tho above firms refuse to guar¬ 
antee that their seeds will grow, but claim to 
exercise all diligence in testing their seeds be¬ 
fore sending them out. The best I can say for 
the above seedsmen, to those who prefer t 
buy vegetable seeds rather thau raise them—is 
this : bug early and then test them for your¬ 
selves before sowiug for the main crop. 
SEEDS TESTED IN THE GARDEN. 
Some persons may think it the fairest kind of 
a test to plant seeds at the proper time in good 
garden soil in the open air. In such a place it is 
next to impossible to proteot them from damage 
from various sources, such as moles, mice and 
numerous kinds of insects. In the open ah-, 
so far rb testing tho germinating power is con¬ 
cerned, tho results are more unsatisfactory than 
when tested in the greenhouse, especially if the 
test is made on a small scale. Ou au even spot 
of sandy loam, on May 18th, we planted most of 
the varieties named of euoh of the firms above. 
The seeds of Bliss averaged 53 per cent. Gre¬ 
gory, 48 ; Briggs Brothers 31 ; Vick, 51 ; 
Thorburn, 44 ; Henderson, 43, Ferry, 34. It 
will be seen that the results are not so favorable 
for the Beeds as when tested in tho greenhouse. 
Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich. 
-»--» ♦-- 
SEEDS. 
not germinate, and dealers in them are found 
fault with, when, very generally, the fault lies in 
the improper manner in which people plant them. 
Many take no heed of the condition of the soil 
or of the depth at which the seed should be 
planted. The temperature and moisture also 
have a controlling influence : the temperature of 
germination of the following seeds is: 
Lowest. Highest. Moat rapid. 
Wheat. 41 - F. 104“ F. 
Barley...41" 1 K 4 = 
Pea....44“ 102° 
Corn.48* 115“ 
Bean.,411' 111* 
... Ho* 
84° F. 
84* 
84" 
at* 
79' 
93' 
Air-dried seeds will imbibe water of absorp¬ 
tion completely in from 48 to 72 hours, in the 
following percentage. 
Mustard, 8 Buckwh’t.iT Oats.60 Pea. 107 
Millet, ..25 Barley.49 Kemp.. ...60 Clover. US 
Lorn.44 Turnip....M Ki'yoeansSO B-et. '.m 
Wheat...4a tiye .58 Horse " 104 W. clover. 127 
Beets....... 
Carrot. 
Cucumber.. 
Cabbuge.... 
Lettuce.... 
Onions. 
Parsnip.... 
Radish. 
Squash. 
Tomato_ 
Beet—.... 
Carrot. 
Cuuli Bower 
Cucumber.. 
Cabbage.... 
.. 
Lettuce. 
Onion. 
Pai-MUlp..... 
Squash.. 
S.ilsity. 
Tomato. 
Beet. 
Carrot. 
Cucumber.. 
Cauliflower. 
Cabbage.... 
Lettuce. 
Onion. 
Parsnip. 
Radish. 
Salsify. 
Totuuio. 
D. M. FERRY A CO. 
.60—50 pieces 
. 50—oilseeds. 
. 10— . 
. 5U—50. 
. 60—50........ 
.. 50-50. 
. 60-30 . 
. 60-60. 
.. 10—10. 
. 50-60. 
39—43. 
24-43. 
9— . 
28-34. 
1— 2., 
39 —39. 
41—14. 
30—27.. 
9-10.. 
0—14.. 
J. J. H. GREGORY. 
50-60 pieces 
50—60 seeds. 
50-50. 
60—50. 
60-60. 
50—60. 
50—30. 
60-60. 
00—50.. 
10-in. 
60-50. 
5U-50.. 
44-39. 
89-41 
SB—87. 
41—41. 
44-47. 
39—40. 
2 - 0 . 
28-20. 
38—11. 
10 - 10 . 
44-44. 
47-19. 
PETER HENDERSON. 
.50-50 pieces 30—37,. 
.60—60 seeds. Si—31.. 
. 60-50..31-41.. 
.. 50 —60.27-34,. 
.60 -Ml.32—39 . 
. 60-50.57—31.. 
. 60—60. 44—41.. 
.£0-50.31-40.. 
. 50 50.... ... 45—40.• 
. 50—30 . 40 -43.. 
. 50-50. 31—38.. 
82 
173 
Wi 
62 
3 
78 
85 
57 
95 
20 
*3 
SO 
73 
82 
!*1 
79 
2 
441 
79 
lbO 
88 
90 
73 
05 
75 
61 
7t 
08 
86 
71 
85 
83 
09 
The great difference in the amount of water ab¬ 
sorbed by mustard and clover seed is worthy of 
notice. The failure of olover seed to catch, fre¬ 
quently arises from sowing it at a time of insuffi¬ 
cient moisture, and can be obviated by first 
soaking the seed, to supply the necessary hu¬ 
midity. Miliet generally seems a good catch 
eveu in dry, hot weather, as a small amount of 
moisture answers for that seed. 
Soaking seed in plain water, however, entails 
certain disadvantages. If we examine the water 
in whioh the seed is soaking, we find that it soon 
becomes brown. It has. therefore, dissolved 
some substance from the seeds ; has actually 
macerated them. If wo pour off this brown 
water and let it stand exposed to heat, it soon 
gives off the smell of ammonia, proving that it 
has soaked out nitrogenous matter, which na¬ 
ture has evidently stored in the seed for the 
nourishment of the young germ. 
This seems to prove at least that this sub¬ 
stance is readily soluble. Moreover, the young 
plant from seed that has been soaked iu water 
J. M. THORBURN & CO. 
B ect ".. 50—50 pieces. 39—43..S3 
Carrot. 50—50 seeds. 48—49. 95 
Cucumber. 50—50. 19—26 45 
Cauliflower. 50 -50 . 4G —434 . 89 
Cabbage. 50-60. 34-31. 05 
Lettuce.50-60. 43- 39. 83 
will be correspondingly weaker and of a paler 
color than that from seed not subjected to this 
ordeal, and the longer the action of the water 
has continued, the more evidently will this be 
the case. Another objection lies in the fact that 
